Part 22 (2/2)

Whatever his business was it occupied all his thoughts, for he did not look to right or left but ran straight to the wall. Another figure came out of the shadows to meet him. They spoke in whispers, but Lucia was near enough to hear what they said.

She listened out of curiosity for it struck her as being rather strange that a man dressed in beautiful dark clothes, with a hat such as she had seen the men in Rome wear, should be out on the beach whispering in the shadow of the wall to a boatman.

When she had listened she was even more surprised.

”It's all right, I've fixed it, you can get aboard her at midnight.”

The boatman's voice was husky and very mysterious.

”Be sure and be here on time,” the man replied, ”this spot is safe, wait until the guard has pa.s.sed and then land. If there is any danger, whistle.”

The boatman nodded. ”It's a risky business,” he objected.

”You will be well paid for it,” the man answered sharply. ”Now go.”

Lucia watched him disappear into the dusk and waited until the boatman had rowed out of sight. Then she straightened her hat and started for home, thinking very hard as she hurried along.

CHAPTER XX

AN INTERRUPTED SAIL

When Lucia reached the road above she ran as fast as she could. She had been so startled at what she had heard that her thoughts were confused. But as she hurried along her mind cleared.

”Perhaps they are all right, and the man is just going for a row,” she said to herself. But the memory of the boatman's words returned to her.

”It's a risky business.”

She did her best to attach no importance to it, but back in her brain was the firm conviction that the man with the hat was one of the Austrians that Roderigo had spoken of. ”An Italian citizen on the face of things, but in their hearts--” Lucia instinctively mimicked Roderigo's gesture. She knew too, that argue though she might, she would interfere.

When she reached the garden she heard Beppi crying and saw a light in his window above. Beppi did not cry very often and by the sound she thought he was in pain.

She hurried into the house and ran upstairs. Nana met her at the door of Beppi's room; she was wringing her hands.

”So you are back,” she cried, ”well, praise the Saints for that, I thought I should lose you both on the same day.”

”'Lose us,' what are you talking about?” Lucia demanded, pus.h.i.+ng past her to the bed.

”Beppino mio, what has happened?” she asked, though there was little need to question for a deep cut in Beppi's cheek, from which the blood spurted freely, was answer enough.

”My face, Lucia, it hurts me so, make it stop bleeding,” Beppi pleaded, ”I fell on a big rock in the garden.”

”Caro mio, how long ago?” Lucia asked excitedly, ”here quick, Nana, get me some hot water, I will wash it as I saw Sister Veronica wash the soldiers. There, there, darling, it will soon be better.”

With trembling fingers Nana and the old servant, Amelie, brought a basin and a towel, and Lucia bathed the wound. It was a deep cut and poor Beppi winced as the water touched it.

After a little the blood stopped and Lucia bound up his head in soft white cloths.

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